May 2, 2009
Maroons Rally Again, Sweep DePauw

CHICAGO -- Senior catcher Scott Hofer's (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge Prep) grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 6-6 tie and lifted the University of Chicago baseball team to a 10-6 come-from-behind win over DePauw University as the Maroons completed a doubleheader sweep Saturday at J. Kyle Anderson Field.

Junior pitcher Joe Pankow (Naperville, Ill./ North) tossed a five-hit complete game as Chicago took Saturday's first game 7-1.

Chicago (16-10) fell behind early in game two when DePauw (22-19) plated five runs in the top of the second inning. Sam Linette capped the frame with a two-run double.

The Maroons answered with four runs in their half of the second. Sophomore second baseman Nick Fazzari (Wheaton, Ill./ Glenbard South) drove in the first run of the inning and later scored.

DePauw added a run in the top of the third and took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

The Maroons had two runners on with two outs in the sixth when senior center fielder Kyle Schmitt (Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Fremd) delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. After a walk to sophomore left fielder Zach Osman (Long Beach, Ind./ Marquette) loaded the bases, Hofer smashed his second home run of the year off losing pitcher Alex Barden (0-1). Hofer drove in five runs in Saturday's nightcap after collecting a pair of RBIs in the opener.

The victory marked the Maroons' 10th win in their last 11 games and their sixth come-from-behind victory in their last 10 outings. It was also the sixth time this season Chicago scored the decisive run in its final at-bat.

Freshman pitcher Preston Atteberry (Fort Worth, Texas/ Phillips Academy, Mass.) threw six innings to notch his first career victory. After allowing five runs on four hits in the second inning, he was touched for just two hits over his final four innings of work. Freshman Alex Garcia (Chicago, Ill./ DeLaSalle) tossed a scoreless seventh.

Pankow scattered five hits in Chicago’s game one victory. He walked two and fanned six en route to his fourth complete game of the year.

Chicago led 2-1 after three innings before putting the game away with five runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Hofer drove in his second run of the game on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on freshman third baseman Stephen Williams’s (Malibu, Calif./ Malibu) two-run double. Freshman designated hitter Trace Capps (Lynwood, Ill./ Bloom) followed Williams with a two-run home run, his second of the year.

David Morefield (3-3) took the loss for DePauw. He allowed three runs (two earned) in three innings.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2